DECEMBER AUCTION NOW LIVE (ends Sunday 8th January)
…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk/
With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits in over 500 lots, there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy or gift this Christmas! The auction is slightly longer than usual due to the festive period – ending on Sunday 8th January.
CHICAGO (December 5, 2016) – Beam Suntory, the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, opens its new global headquarters in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart today.
The world leader in Bourbon and Japanese whisky has relocated its Americas region and global marketing personnel from Deerfield to downtown Chicago, with corporate functions following in 2017. Beam Suntory has renovated 110,000 square feet on the 16th floor of the Merchandise Mart, an architectural landmark situated on the Chicago River in the dynamic River North neighborhood.
“Chicago is one of the world’s greatest cities, and this move underscores our strategic priority of getting closer to our customers and consumers in major cities around the world,” Beam Suntory Chairman & CEO Matt Shattock said. “For a company like ours, with so many brands with heritage measured in centuries and boundless future opportunities, we feel doubly fortunate to set our global business up for continued success in the historic and dynamic Merchandise Mart.”
Beam Suntory has a stated objective of becoming the world’s fastest-growing premium spirits company. As cities are a major source of industry growth, Beam Suntory has focused resources in key cities around the world, including Chicago.
“I want to congratulate Beam Suntory for relocating their global headquarters to the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Companies from around the country and across the world are bringing new jobs and new investments to Chicago in recognition of the fact that we are a great place to live and work, and Beam Suntory will be an excellent addition not just to the Merchandise Mart but to the entire City of Chicago.”
The newly refurbished space was designed to reflect Beam Suntory’s long and proud heritage, including certain walls made from oak barrel staves, copper elements inspired by stills, a story wall marking historic company milestones, and neighborhoods named for major company brands. The office also includes Fred’s Rackhouse, a fully functioning bar named for Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, that will be used for brand education and company events, as well as sit-or-stand desks and technology that allows employees to take their work anywhere.
The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest wholesale design center and one of Chicago’s premier international business locations for internet, advertising, technology, healthcare and media companies. The Merchandise Mart became the world’s largest LEED®-EB certified building in November 2007.
About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
© 2016 Beam Suntory Inc., Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60654
JOIN US for BURNS NIGHT IN 2017
Bookings being taken now…
BURNS NIGHT
Wednesday 25th JANUARY 2017
It only comes round once a year and we have two stunning venues with different Burns Night celebrations to choose from – join us for a fun and traditional Burns Night Supper to celebrate our national poet Robert Burns whose message of friendship and Auld Lang Syne lives on. Join us at WHISKI Bar or WHISKI ROOMS on Wednesday 25th January 2017 for a memorable Burns Night Supper to celebrate our national poet Robert Burns whose message of friendship and Auld Lang Syne lives on. In addition, we have two sittings on Saturday 21st January 2017 in the WHISKI ROOMS for those that can not join us on the “official” Burns Night of the 25th January 2017. Bookings being taken now.
Call us on 0131-556-3095 to book WHISKI on the Royal Mile for our Burns Supper with live fiddle band. Date: Wednesday 25th January 2017 Time: 7:30PM £30 pp
View WHISKI’s Burns Supper here
Call us on 0131 225 7224 to book WHISKI Rooms overlooking the Mound for one of our Burns Night extravaganza celebrations – two dates available. Date: Saturday 21st January 2017 Two sittings: 5PM and 8:30PM £36 pp Date: Wednesday 21st January 2017 Time: 7:30PM £36 pp
View WHISKI Rooms Burns Supper here
Hope to see you in WHISKI or WHISKI Rooms for a great Scottish celebration. Best Regards from all at
WHISKI Bar and WHISKI Rooms www.whiskibar.com | www.whiskirooms.com
Saturday, January 14th
12-4PM:
Indian Whiskies with
Amrut & Rampur
Start the new year with a treat! Join us Saturday the 14th for Indian Whiskies, featuring Amrut and Rampur. We’ll be pouring both new releases and award-winning favorites from both distilleries, with distillery representatives and whisky experts present throughout for all your whiskey questions. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the whiskey world, this is the tasting for you!
Click Here to RSVP on Facebook
Birmingham Whisky Club Goes Big On Burns’ This January
The Birmingham Whisky Club are beating the January blues this month by raising a dram (or several) to Rabbie Burns’.
Burns’ Night is the annual celebration in honour of Scottish poet Robert Burns’. If you haven’t attended a Burns Night event before, expect haggis based feasting, lashings of Scottish whisky, poetry, dancing and even a wee bit bagpipe music.
On Burns’ night itself (Wednesday 25th January), the club are hosting a whisky and food matching event at The Plough, Harborne. Expect a fantastic four course feast, matched to delicious whiskies from Ian Macleod distillers and expert advice along the way.
On Saturday 28th January, the club are hosting their biggest celebration in their whisky-soaked history at the beautiful Rowheath Pavilion in Bournville. In the afternoon they’re hosting a ‘family friendly’ session, where guests are invited to tuck into a delicious meal, enjoy music from the award-winning Burdock Ceilidh band and a whisky (or a wee nipper for the kids). In the evening, join them for a full three-course Scottish feast, lashings of award-winning Glen Grant whisky, a live bagpiper and two sessions of led Ceilidh dancing.
Amy Seton (owner of The Birmingham Whisky Club) had this to say, “Burns’ Night is a huge celebration in the Scottish whisky calendar, so we knew we had to throw something big to mark it. We’re very pleased to be working with Ian Macleod Distillers and Glen Grant whiskies to bring a taste of Scotland to the heart of the Midlands this January.”
Tickets for both events are now on sale. For more information on The Birmingham Whisky Club and all of their upcoming events, head to their website www.thebirminghamwhiskyclub.co.uk/.
Notes
For information about The Birmingham Whisky Club please visit www.thebirminghamwhiskyclub.co.uk/ or contact Amy Seton on 07966 266511 or email Vicky@birminghamwhiskyclub.co.uk.
About The Birmingham Whisky Club
The Birmingham Whisky Club is Birmingham’s only dedicated whisky tasting events company. We offer a diverse range of tutored tastings and whisky-themed events in and around Birmingham, including themed and rare whisky night’s, events with distilleries, whisky and food matching, and private and corporate events. We welcome everyone, from complete beginners to the more hardened whisky buff.
Visit our webpage www.thebirminghamwhiskyclub.co.uk/ or find us on Facebook.
Kavalan distillery is located on the edge of Yilan City in north-eastern Taiwan
Kavalan – on top of the podium
Regular blog readers may remember I wrote about Kavalan in May, when master blender Ian Chang hosted a TWE tasting. Inspired by this, I took a trip to Taiwan to see the distillery for myself.
The eastern Taiwanese region of Yilan County, where Kavalan’s distillery is located, has the purest spring water in the country. The site was originally founded as a bottling plant for owner King Car’s Green Time Natural Drinking Water, which still takes place there today, with the whisky-producing element being added during 2005. The Kavalan were one of the many indigenous tribes of Taiwan, and they inhabited the Yilan area up until the mid-19th century, speaking the language of the same name, which is now considered endangered.
Kavalan’s stills are made by Forsyth’s of Scotland
The distillery may be modern, but traditional methods are the order of the day – as with their whiskies, it’s a case of taking a Scottish product known the world over and adding a Taiwanese twist. This can be seen right from the initial mashing process, where two of the tuns are made from Taiwanese steel and a third made from copper by Forsyth’s of Scotland. The combination has seen the distillery receive many awards, including Solist Vinho Barrique winning the prestigious title of World’s Best Single Malt Whisky at the 2015 World Whiskies Awards. The recognition and subsequent surge in demand has resulted in the distillery celebrating its 10th anniversary by opening a second distillery on the same site, which will double capacity, allowing 10 million bottles to be produced per year.
One thing evident at Kavalan not normally seen at a distillery is a special part of the cooperage. Coopering itself is a rare thing in Taiwan, and the original set of coopers travelled to Scotland to learn their trade, and they now train any new apprentices in Taiwan. The ex-wine casks used by the distillery are decharred, toasted and recharred on-site – I can tell you it’s a very warming experience in a country where the mercury regularly top 30°C. The climate is another feature that sets the distillery apart from its Scottish counterparts, with not just the temperatures, but also the extreme humidity causing the water to evaporate in the casks as well as the alcohol, and therefore the whisky to mature four times more quickly than in Scotland.
Kavalan is one of a few distilleries to rechar casks on-site
Taking the blind-tasting test at Kavalan
After seeing the production area of the distillery, I was treated to a blind tasting in the tasting room, but managed to get (guess!) all four at the first attempt. Two of them were whiskies that haven’t yet made it over to the UK: the first was the spicy and warming Solist Brandy Cask, one of the expanding Solist range which comprises whiskies fully matured in a single type of cask and which currently numbers 10 expressions; the second was the distillery-exclusive Distillery Reserve Peaty Cask, aged in casks formerly used for Islay whisky, which adds a subtle smokiness to the trademark Kavalan tropical-fruit notes. The third was a second member of the Solist range: the fruity and spicy Solist Port Cask, of which we are presently out of stock, but more should arrive in the New Year. This use of more unusual casks is something Kavalan likes to experiment with.
Last was one of the distillery’s newer releases, which I had not tried before: Podium. Here is what I thought:
Podium uses a variety of cask types, including bourbon and sherry, combined with new American oak. This adds extra spicy notes and adds to the richness and complexity of the whisky.
Nose: Very fruity with apple and mango backed up by toffee, vanilla and cinnamon.
Palate: Creamy in texture and warming in nature. Spiciness comes to the fore, almost clove-like in dryness with menthol and the apple and mango notes following through from the nose, joined by hints of coconut and vanilla.
Finish: A long, spicy finish with menthol and dry spices.
Comment: This shares a similar taste profile to the Classic, with the distillery’s trademark notes of apple, mango, vanilla and coconut, but with an extra dimension added by the use of virgin oak. It’s warming at full strength, but add a drop or two of water and it’s very moreish.
Kavalan is a distillery that continues to rise in popularity and quality. If you ever get the chance to visit the distillery and Taiwan in general, I’d encourage you to do so. Everyone is very friendly, and even if like me, you don’t speak Mandarin or aren’t very good with chopsticks, you won’t have any problems!
The Kavalan range is available on the Whisky Exchange website, click here to see the range.
2016 – A Banner Year for K&L Exclusive Spirit Selections
The Spirits Department at K&L has traveled far and wide searching out those perfect finds that combine the ideal nexus between quality and value. From Scotland to France, Kentucky to Japan and nearly everywhere else a spirit is distilled, we’ve spoken directly with producers, learning their stories, and in the process discovering what makes their bottlings so special. Through developing these direct relationships, we’ve not only been able to track down amazing finds we know our customers will love, but we’ve also negotiated deals that skip several tiers of the distribution chain, thereby delivering substantial savings.
Those who have been working with our spirits department over the years will already know you won’t find a more dedicated or knowledgeable crew in the business – the spirits offered below are a testament to their hard work and savvy. Check out our Spirits Journal to learn about our most recent discoveries, as we are always unearthing new treasures that will tantalize the palate. So whether your preference is rare single malts or Japanese whisky we’ll have just the bottle for you.
| 1964 | Sovereign 51 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) | $399.99 | View |
| 1964 | Sovereign 51 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel (45.8%) Cask Strength Blended Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) | $299.99 | View |
| 1964 | Sovereign 51 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel (44.6%) Cask Strength Blended Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) | $299.99 | View |
| 2009 | Caol Ila 7 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice – K&L Exclusive” Single Wine Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) | $59.99 | View |
| 1989 | Bunnahabhain 27 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice – K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) | $159.99 | View |
| 1992 | Strathmill 24 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice – K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) | $89.99 | View |
| Russell’s Reserve “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #3181 Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) | $64.99 | View |
| High West “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel 101 Proof Double Rye Whiskey (750ml) | $49.99 | View |
| Ohishi “‘K&L Exclusive”‘ Single Sherry Cask #1023 Japanese Whisky (750ml) | $74.99 | View |
| Faultline 17 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Caribbean Rum (750ml) | $79.99 | View |
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 151: Mortlach 19 Year Old 1997 Brachadair
Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a single cask of Mortlach. Brachadair is a Belgian bottler that took its name from the Gaelic word for brewer or maltman. They recently bottled a single cask of Mortlach 1997 – of which official bottlings have become all but unaffordable – at cask strength. Yes, this is the Beast of Dufftown alright!
